Cylinder valve



Feb. 3, 1942. E. M. EVLETH 2,271,917

CYLINDER VALVE Filed June 26, 1939 TOR.

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222 44. fVZff/A INVEN Patented Feb. 3, 1942 UNITED STATES CYLINDER VALVE Earl M. Evleth, Ingelwood, Calif., assignor to n C. Roney, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application June 26,

6 Claims.

My invention relates to valves and particularly a valve especially adapted for use on a high pressure gas cylinder.

It is common practice to supply fuel gas or combustible gas, such as butane, ethane, methane, and the like, to users in high pressure gas cylinders; and such cylinders have cylinder valves for controlling the flow of gas therefrom. The

ordinary cylinder valve is secured to the cylinder 7 and projects therefrom. Because of the rough handling of the cylinder during shipping a removable protecting cover is provided which encloses the valve during shipment and which is removed when the cylinder is installed ready for use. Furthermore, the ordinary cylinder valve includes a valve body, a valve stem having a valve member secured to the end thereof, and a packing gland around the valve stem as well as threaded connections whereby the valve may be connected to the cylinder and also connected to the conduit through which the gas is flowed. Such valves involve a considerable investment not only in first cost, but also in maintenance costs.

It is 'an object of my invention to provide a high pressure cylinder valve which is economical both in first cost and maintenance cost, in which all internal parts are removable and replaceable without removing the valve body from the container or part to which it is attached.

It is an object of my invention to providea valve in which the valve body with the valve or closure member in it is secured to the cylinder and in which the other parts are removed during shipping. In this way thereare no projecting parts which are liable to injury.

It is another object of my invention to .provide a valve in which one portion is connected tothe cylinder or to the source of supply and the other portion is in the form of a conduit means which is connected to the conduit system at the place of use, and which has a valve opener, and which is so constructed that when .the conduit means is connected to the body at the place of use the valve is opened and gas is supplied to the conduit system.

In the valve of my invention the valve opening means which I have referred to as a part of the conduit means may be a permanent part of I I I I sovalve body I2 isprovi'ded with a, central outlet the apparatus of the user, and the body with the valve in it may be a permanent part of the cylinder. The two parts are so designed that when the part of the apparatus of the user .is

connected to the body the valve is automatically-- which consists of a disc comprising a layer of valve-material, such, for example,- as rubber com-- position or synthetic rubber, which is vulcanized 1939, Serial No. 281,169

to a thin metal backing plate, and it is an object of my invention to provide a new article of manufactureof this character.

I have found that such valves may be economically produced by taking a thin sheet of metal and applying a thin layer of the valve material to this sheet of metal, subjecting the same to a vulcanizing process, and thereafter punching the discs from this combination of parts. It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide a method of producing the ne article of manufacture of my invention.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrateda preferred form of my invention. Various modifications or alterations may be made in the structure without departing from the spirit and scope ofmy invention, and I therefore wish my invention to be broadly construed in accordance with thepreceding statement of invention and appended claims.

Referring to the drawing:

'Fig. l'is a sectional view through a valve incorporating the features of my invention, this view showing the sealing means being brought into operation just prior to the unseating of the Fig. 3 is a quarter which part may be connected to the conduit system and connected to the body of the valve when the cylinder is installed ready for use.

Fig. 4 is a quartersection illustrating the manvalve body shipping.

5 is an invention.

toprotect the interior parts during form of valve of myfinvention.

Asshown inthe drawing, thenumeral H is representative of a container or other source of of my invention, this permanent part including a body [2 'which' i's connected to the container l I either'by welding l4, as illustrated, or, if desired,

it may be threadedly connected thereto. The

passage I5 which extends from theinterior to the exterior thereof. Atthe inner end of the outlet passagev is a perforate wall 16 which provi'des an annular shoulder [1. Above "the s-hould'er II is a threaded portion 18 which receives a j valveseat member l9. 1 This valve seatmem-ber l seats against a gasket 20 which engages the shoulder 11 and thus forms a fluid-tight orgas- ;;g-tight seal around the valve seat member l9. .It

. will be understood that the valve seat member isa cross-sectional view taken on the" sectional view showingthe' removable part of the-valve of my invention,-

ner in which a plug may be'employed in the enlarged'section' of the valve of my Figs6 is an enlarged section of an alternative l9 may be considered a part of the body l2 and is made separable to permit assembly of the parts. The lower end of the valve seat member I9 is provided with a counterbore in order to form a valve chamber 22 in the lower end of the The member H! is provided outlet passage I5. with a central passage 23 which forms a part ofthe outlet passage 5, this passage 23 being pref:-

erably hexagonal in cross-section in order that a wrench may be applied forinst'allin'g or remov' ing this member [9. Surrounding" the lower "end of the passage 23 is an annular valve seat 25. Placed in the valve chamber -22 is a valve 26 adapted to engage the valve seat 25 for closing the outlet passage I5. As shown best in Fig.5, this valve is made from a layer Ziiof valve material, such as rubber compound, or synthetic of metal of suitable thickness and a sheet of.

valve material of suitable thickness and vulcanizing the two together. This provides a large laminated sheet. By a punching process the cylindrical discs arepunched from the sheet and in this Way the valves, such as 26, are produced.

It will be noted that the valve 26 is slightly smaller in diameter than the valve chamber 22 so that the cylindrical wallof the valve chamber 22 acts as a centralizing means. Also, it will be noted that the valve 26 is held against the valve seat 25 by the pressure of'the gas in the cylinder or container However,; if desired, a compression spring. could be provided between the valve 26 and the perforate wall I6. I

Above the threaded portion |8.the outlet passage |5 includes an annular, recess 3| which receives an annular gasket 32 which is of rectangular cross-section, as shown. The upper or outer end of the outlet passage I5 is in the form of an upper threaded portion 34.

My invention also includes a removable part 40 which is illustrated in Fig. 3. This removable part 40 includes. a non-rotatable'stem, conduit means, or valve opening means 4 having a cylindrical part 42 providedwith a shoulder 43 at its inner endand also providing an inwardly or downwardly projecting valve engaging portion or. pin 44. The stem 4| has a conduit passage 45 which is connected to the lower end by means of a connecting port 46. The upper end; of the stem 4| is connected by a connecting means 41 removably secured thereto by a threaded engagement 48 to a flexible conduit or pigtailv 50 which forms a part of the conduit system.

Surrounding the cylindrical portion 42 is a securing means or nut 52 having a lower threaded end 53 and having wings 54 extending outwardly from its upper end whereby the nut may be rotated. This nut 52 has an opening 55 through which the cylindrical portion 42 of the stem 4| extends and is adapted at its lower end to engage the shoulder 43 of the stem 4|.

During shipping a suitable plug 60, such as illustrated in Fig. 4, is screwed into the upper threaded portion 34 to protectthe valve 26 from beingunseated and also to protect the other parts from being damaged or to prevent the entrance of foreign material into the outlet passage I5. At this time the gas pressure holds the valve 26 against the valve seat 25 and thus effectively thus prevents leakage.

prevents leakage. Nothwithstanding the fact that the gas pressure may be very high, the valve 26 will not bend due to the provision of the metal backing member 29. It will be seen that there are no exposed parts which are liable to damage and that any engagement or impact against the plug will do no harm.

. When the cylinder is ready for use the plug 60 is removed and the lower end of the stem 4| is extendediin'to 'the'oute'r end of the outlet passage I52 Theflnut 52is then slid downwardly and rotated so that" it is screwed into the upper threaded portion 340i the outlet passage l5. Due to the'eng'agement of the lower end of this nut 52 withtl'ie shoulder 43, the stem 4| is forced downward. When the parts reach the position shownin Fig. 1. the shoulder 43 comes into engageinent with the upper wall of the gasket 32 and compressesthe same. This forms a seal between the; valve stem '4l and the body l2 and I The pin 44 is of such a length that the, shoulder will, engage or compress the gasket 32 prior to the'time that the valve 26 is engagedand unseated in order that a seal will .be formed. between the stem and body before ai y, gas is allowed to'pass through the outlet passage I5, As the parts are advanced downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1 the gasket 32 is further compressed, and in addition to this the lower endof the pin 44 engages the valve 26 andforces it downward from its seat 25, thus opening the outlet passage l5, and allowing gas to flow therethrough. Considerable force may be required to unseat the'valve 26, but, notwithstanding this fact, there will be no bending of the valve due to theprovision of the metal backing plate 29, At this time gas flows through the passage 23 around the pin 44 into the space inside the gasket 32, and then through the port 46, andinto the stem passage 45 whereby it may fiowinto andthrough thepigtail 5,0. When'fthe removable'part 46., isdisconnected.

from the pern' la e'nt part"'the valve will be allowed to seat'be fore; the "gasket is" released, and in this wa the barren passage will be closed 'before the seal; between'the'stern and body is relieved.

In Fig. 6.1.have illustratedan alternative form ofvalve in which the inetalbackihg'member 5,!

is provided with; a centnallug 29a which extends through a centralopening in the'part 2 8 sotha 't the, pin 44 may engage themetal andnot tend to distort thelayer' oiIvalv'e' material 28.

It is believed that the features and advantages of, my inventionfas' pointed out heretofore, not

only in the statement of. invention, but also dur- "vention illustrated herein has certain features ing the courseoffthe detailed, description of the preferred form of mymvennon, will serve to teach those skilled in thelart 'as to how my'invention may be put into use and as to its various features and advantages over the prior art.

Various modifications may be made," such, for example, as making the'rneniber ta -integral with the body l2, and 'makingtli'e perioratewall i8 removable so that the valve member '25 can be installed through the lower end, of the body.

Likewise, the nut and stern and a joint'formed b $91 9 h m n e ra 1 t ei iite iii a stem w. i h wqu allow? ii mt i nshould be understood "that the form'of my in and advantages embodied in itsdetails of enstructioni'andds a preferred forni' of my inven tion." It should be una'erstoqd; however, that the invention be construed broadly in' accordance with the statement of invention and appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a valve: a body having an outlet passage, threads formed therein, and a lower perforate wall means crossing the lower end of said passage; a valve seat member having a downwardly facing valve seat, said valve seat member being screwed into said passage and being removable outwardly therefrom; a valve in said outlet passage between said valve seat member and said perforate wall means, said valve being engageable with said valve seat for closing said outlet passage; a valve opening means adapted to extend into said outlet passage and having a valve engaging portion and a passage adapted to communicate with said outlet passage; externally threaded securing means cooperating between said body and valve opening means and being screwable into the threads in said outlet passage for securing same together and for causing said valve engaging portion to unseat said valve; and gasket means cooperating between said body and valve opening means and operative to form a seal between said body and valve opening means at least as soon as said valve is unseated.

2. In a valve: a body having an outlet passage, threads formed therein, and a lower perforate wall means crossing the lower end of said passage; a valve seat member having a downwardly facing valve seat, said valve seat member being threadedly supported in the inner portion of said passage and being removable outwardly therefrom; a valve in said outlet passage between said valve seat member and said perforate wall means, said valve being engageable with said valve seat for closing said outlet passage; a valve opening means adapted to be screwed into said outlet passage and having a valve engaging portion and a passage adapted to communicate with said outlet passage; and gasket means in said outlet passage immediately outside said valve seat member and being removable outwardly through said outlet passage and engageable by said valve opening means when said valve opening means is screwed into said outlet passage to form a seal between said body and said Valve opening means.

3. In a valve: a body having an outlet passage, said outlet passage having an inner threaded portion, an outer threaded portion, an intermediate gasket receiving recess between said threaded portions, and an integral perforate wall means enclosing the inner end of said outlet passage; a valve seat member removably received in said inner threaded portion and being removable outwardly from said outlet passage, said valve seat member having a valve seat and cooperating with said perforate wall means to form a valve chamber in said outlet passage; a valve in said valve chamber and engageable with said valve seat; a gasket in said gasket receiving recess; a non-rotatable stem adapted to be extended into said outlet passage and having a valve engaging portion, an inner shoulder, and a passage adapted to communicate with said outlet passage; and a nut rotatable on said stem and engageable with said shoulder, said nut being threadable into said threaded portion of said outlet passage to cause said stem to be moved inwardly in said outlet passage to cause same to engage said asket and to unseat said valve.

4. In a valve and connecting means of the character described, the combination of: a valve casing having an opening leading in from the outer part thereof, said opening communicating with the inner face of said casing; a valve body disposed within said opening, said body comprising a valve port with a seat at the inner end thereof, and a closure member movable outwardly into engagement with said seat so as to lie across the inner end of said port; a tubular connector element adapted to be connected to the outer portion of said opening, said connector element having an annular shoulder and a stem which projects through said port and displaces said closure member from said seat when said connector element is connected to said opening; and means in said opening for sealing engagement with said valve body said tubular connector element and said valve casing, said sealing means being of such thickness that it will be compressed between said valve body and said annular shoulder of said tubular connector element.

5. In a valve and connecting means of the character described, the combination of: a valve casing having an opening leading in from the outer part thereof, said opening communicating with the inner face of said casing; a valve body disposed within said opening, said body comprising a valve port with a seat at the inner end thereof, and a closure member movable outwardly into engagement with said seat so as to lie across the inner end of said port; a tubular connector element adapted to be connected to the outer portion of said opening, said connector element having an annular shoulder and a stem which projects through said port and displaces said 4e closure member from said seat when said connector element is connected to said opening; screw means rotatable relatively to said connector element and being operative to move said connector element into said opening; and sealing means in said opening engaging said valve body, said tubular connector element and being of such thickness that it will be compressed between said valve body and said annular shoulder when said connector element is moved into said opening.

6. In a valve and connecting means of the character described, the combination of: a valve casing having an opening leading in from the outer part thereof, said opening communicating with the inner face of said casing, and the outer portion of said opening being threaded; a valve body disposed within said opening, said body comprising a valve port with a seat at the inner end thereof, and a closure member movable outwardly into engagement with said seat so as to lie across the inner end of said port; a tubular connector element adapted to pass into the outer portion of said opening, said connector element having a shoulder near the end thereof and having a stem which projects through said port and displaces said closure member from said seat when said connector element is connected to said opening; a sleeve surrounding said connector element above said shoulder, said sleeve having external threads whereby it may be screwed into the outer portion of said opening, whereby to secure said connector elements in communication with said opening; and sealing means in said opening to engage said connector element and prevent leakage therearound at least while said closure member is displaced from said seat b said stem.

EARL M. EVLETH. 

